Birmingham complete deal for N'Zogbia

27 August 2010 02:00

Wigan have accepted an offer from Birmingham for Charles N'Zogbia after the Blues matched the Latics' valuation.

The French winger has been linked with a move away from the DW Stadium all summer and Birmingham boss Alex McLeish heightened the speculation on Thursday by revealing his club had put in a new bid.

N'Zogbia is now set to talk to the midlands outfit after Wigan confirmed they have accepted a "much-improved" offer for the 24-year-old.

A short statement on club website www.wiganlatics.co.uk read: "Wigan Athletic can confirm that they have accepted a much improved offer from Birmingham City for France winger Charles N'Zogbia, which has now met the club's valuation.

"The player has now been given permission to speak with Birmingham."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez on Thursday criticised his Birmingham counterpart McLeish for going public over his club's interest in the player - and claimed the Blues' offer at that point was less than one they rejected earlier in the summer.

The Spaniard said: "We had a couple of offers in May and now the offer is less than the one we had in May and then they go public in the press. It doesn't look serious to me.

"The valuation is very clear. If the team matches it he can speak with them. Until that happens he is a Wigan Athletic player."

N'Zogbia, who made his France debut earlier this month in Les Bleus' friendly defeat in Norway, started out in English football at Newcastle following his 2004 move from Le Havre.

He moved to Wigan in January 2009 after falling out of favour at St James' Park and was voted player of the season by players and fans at the DW Stadium last term.